Compared to the intense warfare in the heart of the New World, Yong Continent was as tranquil as a secluded paradise.
Ever since Qian Ye learned about the malevolence of the New World and accidentally received its benevolence, he no longer hesitated to challenge Saosha. He took firm actions repeatedly, pushing the Mosar werewolves into dire straits.
With Qian Ye and Long Zang together, they had proven capable of wounding Saosha, and Saosha was uncertain whether Duke Liu had truly left. Therefore, he chose to remain in the shadows, indifferent even if his subordinates were being beaten severely.
However, Qian Ye knew he couldn’t be too audacious. If he got too close to the Mosar entrance, Saosha might suddenly appear and strike with a devastating blow. At that moment, the benevolence of the New World might not have time to activate, and Saosha could escape back to Evernight.
As for whether Qian Ye himself could withstand Saosha’s attack, it was a question that didn’t need an answer.
Thus, Qian Ye set a boundary of three hundred kilometers. He would strike any werewolf who crossed the line, but he wouldn’t take a step beyond. Over time, the werewolves understood this line and stopped expanding towards Qian Ye, instead opting to explore in the opposite direction. This way, both sides remained at peace within the New World.
While reviewing battle reports, Qian Ye noticed some peculiar numbers. Despite the long period of expansion by the Mosar werewolves, their forces in the New World seemed to be decreasing rather than increasing. Relying on the cover of the Sacred Tree’s aura, Qian Ye secretly scouted the werewolves’ entrance and confirmed that their forces were indeed diminishing. Could it be that Saosha, ashamed, was preparing to abandon the New World?
This idea was quickly dismissed by Qian Ye. The benefits of the New World were immeasurable. Whether it was the sacred tree sap or the golden minerals beneath the trees, they were all priceless treasures. Even a random stone here could be a valuable ore like dark gold sand.
By now, as the situation stabilized on Qian Ye’s side, various dark races began to arrive at Yong Continent, hoping to do business. Within Bibo City, there were many dark kin, arachne, and blood kin, as well as humans.
The coexistence of these races was harmonious, as everyone was here for trade. As for war, that was something happening outside Bibo City.
Qian Ye had not anticipated such a scenario. Any dark race that arrived in Bibo City, after hearing the legend of Qian Ye, the Dark Child, flocked to visit the Ancestral Altar of the werewolves. The werewolf high priest welcomed all visitors, proudly allowing these ignorant outsiders to bask in the aura of the Dark Child.
Qian Ye’s dark gold bloodline was so exalted that anyone who came to witness it was awed. Weaker individuals felt their legs go weak and were involuntarily compelled to kneel, while stronger ones, with powerful bloodline talents, faintly sensed the presence of the dark origin point, leaving them profoundly shocked.
Seeing these outsiders, either astounded or stunned, the werewolf high priest was elated, feeling dark force spurt from every pore. The Yong werewolves, who had always been looked down upon, finally felt a sense of pride, inwardly sneering, “Such inexperienced fellows!”
Therefore, the stronger the dark races that arrived in Bibo City, the more obedient they became, especially those who sensed the dark origin point. They were as docile as cats.
The other three races were better off, especially the blood kin, who were heavily suppressed by their bloodlines. Many collapsed and fell to the ground. Those who heard about this rushed to the Ancestral Altar, eager to embarrass themselves in public. Many entered on their feet but were carried out by the werewolves. However, they paid no mind, bowing to the altar before hastily departing.
The meaning behind this was clear to all.
The strong dark races in the city were as gentle as cats, and their followers naturally became extremely amiable. Not only did they greet the native werewolves of the Jade Sea with smiles, but they were even more courteous to the humans, as the latter had money and could do business.
In the city, the human populace was mainly from Zheng Kingdom, the Imperial Family, and the Neutral Lands. The Neutral Lands, where humans and dark races coexisted, faced no issues. Zheng Kingdom, almost destroyed by the Jade Sea werewolves, dared not cause trouble. The Imperial Family, knowing the profits from trading with dark races, would not miss such an opportunity; why would they choose violence over profit?
Initially, Qian Ye was worried about the increasingly complex demographics in Bibo City, but every time he returned from the New World, he saw a harmonious scene of integration and happiness among the races.
He felt something was amiss, but the reports from Song Hui grew increasingly positive. Even though the Empire had cut off supplies through war taxes, the military provisions from Evernight were unending, eventually surpassing the Empire. In a sense, Evernight was now supporting Qian Ye’s expansion.
It was ironic, but that was reality.
Qian Ye’s expansion in the New World was accelerating, and his territory was growing. Since receiving the New World’s benevolence, he could enter and exit the forest without restrictions, and the six-armed creatures and beast tribes suffered. Even the six-armed generals of the Four Sacred Trees Forest, if caught off guard, would lose their heads to Long Zang’s gun.
Qian Ye now realized that the Sacred Tree was like a mother, and the six-armed creatures and he were like two children, vying for favor. But in the New World, this rivalry was deadly, with one side destined to perish.
As his controlled area expanded, incorporating more Sacred Trees, Qian Ye’s strategic resources piled up.
Given the Empire’s treatment, Qian Ye would never again offer them resources. However, he also strictly controlled the flow of Sacred Tree sap and gold stones into Evernight. For other mineral resources, he wasn’t as stringent. These materials wouldn’t form combat power immediately and could be traded for much-needed military supplies.
This situation revealed that the Empire’s schemers had miscalculated. Qian Ye still obtained military supplies from Evernight, even securing elite equipment. Though humans needed to modify Evernight weapons, Qian Ye’s primary population was werewolves, so the production in the Neutral Lands kept up.
Moreover, the Evernight faction, unlike the Empire, was divided among four major races, with numerous small tribes lacking a single leader. Many sought wealth, making it difficult to control and tax, unlike the Empire, which could blockade and tax with the Imperial Fleet. The Parliament, preoccupied with New World affairs, couldn’t focus on the military trade.
With alternative sources of military supplies, Qian Ye’s expansion continued unhindered, contrary to the expectations of those who thought he’d be forced to submit to the Empire’s harsh terms.
This created a stalemate. Knowing Qian Ye hoarded vast amounts of Sacred Tree sap, and urgently needing troops in the New World, the Empire couldn’t secure supplies and had to rely on Qin and Western Continents. With only two continents, they couldn’t match Evernight’s thirteen, and even the capable Emperor Zhao Song couldn’t win.
Initially, some officials criticized Qian Ye for keeping the sap in storage, deeming him disloyal. However, these arguments were weak and soon met with counter-attacks. A few openly accused them of ruining a good situation with their unreasonable taxes.
The two factions clashed, and continuous reports from Yong Continent showed Qian Ye’s firm suppression of the Mosar werewolves, forcing Lord Saosha to hide, and his rapid expansion, occupying an area equivalent to three continents, even surpassing the entire Empire.
If Qian Ye fully supported the Empire, restoring supplies from the Yuezhou Continent, they would have six continents, comparable to Evernight’s twelve, excluding the werewolves. Following the Empire’s strategy, targeting one race and dividing the others, the Evernight Alliance would collapse.
More importantly, Qian Ye possessed the Hall of Heroes, the ultimate weapon of the New World. With its aid, he might even stand against Evernight.
This promising situation was ruined by a few crates of sap.
Those who initially advocated controlling Qian Ye, seeing the unfavorable tide, proposed using force to make him submit.
This suggestion was met with widespread opposition. Some pointed out that Qian Ye already wielded Long Zang, as powerful as a famous gun. One shot wounded Saosha. Qian Ye, a genius of his generation, now with half a famous gun, who could stop him? Would they need to call on the Emperors?
Even if the Emperors were willing, an injury to one of them would invite retaliation from the Evernight Parliament, with dark sovereigns targeting the Empire.
The families involved in Yong Continent covertly maneuvered, using various means to undermine the opposing faction. Losing their financial gains, they were enraged, employing every possible tactic.
Many envied the profits from Yong Continent, including some upper-tier families, unwilling to let the Yin and Kong families monopolize the wealth. These families also worked in secret, suddenly turning the tide against the anti-Qian Ye faction, which, unable to withstand the pressure, had to sacrifice low-ranking members as scapegoats.
In the central region of the New World, battles raged, and Zhao and Song sent urgent reports three times a day, requesting troops and equipment.
Song Zining explicitly stated that if more troops weren’t supplied, he would forcibly recruit strong family members to fight in the New World. More fighters meant more sap. He specifically named the families that had advocated for heavy taxes on Yong trades.
Now, with significant power, Song Zining was crucial for the Empire’s fate in the New World. His report, devoid of politeness, named and shamed each family, demanding they either supply the sap or send their own fighters.
Everyone knew that those sent to Song Zining would likely not return alive.
In the latest urgent report, Song Zining, in stern language, warned that frontline soldiers, bleeding in battle, were demoralized, learning that someone was blocking supplies for personal gain. If not resolved, he would no longer be able to control the situation.
A mutiny on the frontlines was a grave matter. This report caused a stir in the court.
Some doubted the urgency, but no one dared to bet on Song Zining. Once, Lin Xitang had been restrained by Zhang Boqian, but who could now control Song Zining? Zhao Jundu, perhaps, who had always been more aggressive than Song Zining.
The Polar King, reading the report, stood silently for a full quarter hour, then said, “What a move, what resolve.”
The next morning, Emperor Hao summoned a grand assembly to discuss reopening trade with Yong Continent.
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